Help! Please.... | ADHD Information

Hi.  My son was diagnosed with ADHD and ODD in April.  He just turned 5 in June, and has been showing signs since he was 10 months old.  I'll put down a list of some of the stuff he is/was doing, but there is far too much to go into detail about.

* Screaming for hours (4-5) at a time...I think he could win horror movie contests with his screams
* Smearing poop all over the walls, floor and bed
* Violence against our cat....putting her in the refridgerator, dresser drawers, hitting kicking, etc.
* violence against his brother (1 year) by hitting, kicking, throwing things at him, smothering him with a pillow etc.
* He used to bang his head on brick, tile floor, walls until he would bleed when he was upset (lasted about 3 years, started at 10 monhts)
* He is currently chewing on all his clothes, bedding, stuffed animals, toys, pretty much anything and everything.  Most of his clothes look like mice chewed holes in them
* Stealing from us, friends, stores, etc.
* He can't eat with utencils, he eats only with his hands
* Destroying anything and everything he can.  We lived in an apartment complex that provided mini blinds, and he had not only chewed through them, but he took them off the window and folded them into little pieces in a matter of an hour.

His bed was so covered in poop that we had to throw it and his pillow away.  It was unsanitary for him to sleep on it.  He has destroyed all of his things, so right now he has a sleeping bag in his room, and that is it.  The sleeping bag I can pick up and wash every day so it is sanitary for him....everything else was too destroyed to keep.  He peed in his dresser drawers, so we had to throw it away.  He now has plastic drawers holding his clothes, they are cheaper and very easy to keep clean with that kind of situation.

We took my son to Children's Hospital Child Development Unit to get him diagnosed.  She said it was very obvious that he was ADHD.  When she showed him a picture of an apple, he would stand up sit down jump left and right before he could answer that it was an apple, but he couldn't say anything about it.  He couldn't say it was a fruit and that you eat it.  He would say things like, I am very happy when Mommy buys me apples, and then start talking about the store, and what we did yesterday. 

His pediatrician read the report, and put him on Adderrol 10mg.  My son has been on the medication since April, and it has affected his hyperactivity.  He is no longer as active as he was, but I would say it's only affected it by 25%.  The other problems we face with the cat, poop, screaming, etc. are still a very large problem. 

My youngest son has to be locked in a room when he goes to sleep.  I have alarms on all of the doors and windows of the house.  I have become so paranoid that my younest son is sleeping with me so I know that my oldest won't go into his room and hurt him in the middle of the night.  Last night I thought I would put him in his own room, and 2 hours he started screaming, and my oldest son came running out of the room.  Things are getting so bad, I feel that I will snap with my oldest.  he is physically harming other people, and is dangerous to leave alone.  I have had some people tell me that this is a common problem with children with ADHD and ODD.  Other people have told me they think he's Autistic. 

Is there other medication I can try?  Is there something else I can do?  I have contacted his pediatrician, and they tell me that it's not as bad as I make it out to be.  My cat spent 2 hours in the refridgerator because my son thought it was funny.  My 1 year old was bleeding from the head because his brother wanted to hit him with a toy while he was in the crib.  I am so frustrated....

I can give the cat away, and I can send my youngest to live with my parents, but that doesn't take care of the situation.

If anyone else is or had these issues, I would love to hear some ideas and suggestions.  I've contacted the state for assistance and programs, but I get the run around and no call backs. 

I appreciate anything anyone can tell me.  Thank you in advance.

I'm sorry I can't give you some advice or help, but I will pray for you and your family. 

Jennifer, welcome.  I can honestly say I think there's more going on here than ADHD.  You definitely need a new evaluation.  I would recommend a neuropsychologist, found at children's and university hospitals.  I have to say I'm dumb-founded that a Child Development Unit at a children's hospital would say these behaviors are strictly due to ADHD (what kind of professional evaluated him?).  We can't diagnose over the internet, but I think you may be looking at Autistic Spectrum Disorder.  Kids on the spectrum frequently have ADHD-like symptoms plus anxiety and sensory issues.  They also don't "get" social cues the way other kids do.  You might want to take a look at this website and fill in the online assessment to see whether the shoe fits:

www.childbrain.com

Good luck.  I hope you get the right kind of help for your son soon.

 

IMac38942.9778935185WOW! Sounds like way more than ADHD to me! I would definately have him
tested!

I would have to agree as well. Way beyond ADHD, even with the ODD combo in there. He is far beyond hyper, inattentive, and defiant. I would definitely have him reevaluated, and I would find another pediatrician while you are at it. It is really unacceptable to reach out for help from the pediatrician and get told you are making a bigger deal out of it, then what it is.
When you have to have your little one sleep with you to keep them out of harms way from the other one, it IS a big deal, and you should not just be brushed off. Totally unacceptable.

Good luck!

Jennifer,

I DO agree with the other posters and you need to get your child re-evaluated. Take the online test for PDD and perhaps you can bring that with you to the doctor.  Best of luck to you

I too agree with the other posters.  I would guess early onset bipolar.  smallmom has had a lot of experience with it.  Get another eval.I agree with SmallMom.  From your description, there is more than ADHD going on, possibly autism.  Get another medical opinion.  I went to 3 different doctors (developmental pediatricians) when I was having my daughter diagnosed because I wanted to be sure of the diagnosis.  And don't forget to take care of your own mental health.  See a doctor if you need to to get you through this stressful period.  Good luck, I feel for you.

I would see a Child Psychiatrist (the guy with MD). Your son could have early onset bipolar. On the other hand, he could also have high functioning autism. But this isn't just ADHD. You do need to check around to make sure you get the right diagnosis and psycologists tend to make poor diagnosticians (except NeuroPsychs). Throughout the years, just like you'd assess your child for any disorder he is diagnosed with, it is prudent to seek out other opinions as the symptoms changed, but this child sounds far more than ADHD. If you want to assess him for possible PDD(online test) I have one, but he could well have a mood disorder. In that case, ADHD meds would make him even worse. If you have to give away the cat, maybe send your younger son away, and put alarms on the doors, you have tons more going on than ADHD and I suggest you evaluate him ASAP, and not by the folks who already have. They seem awfully laid back, considering the severity of the symptoms. Good luck.

www.childbrain.com/pddassess/html

www.conductdisorders.com (another good board)

MomWI38937.2146643519I'm going to have to jump in here and say I have a pre-schooler with ADHD and NONE of the things you describe come close to describing his behavior.  I have to agree with everyone that this may be more than or something other than ADHD.

  Hi Jennifer,

 

  Welcome. Let me echo the other ladies here. It sounds more involved than ADHD. I would keep trying different doctors until you find one that can truly help things improve with your older son.

 

  Sadly, giving the cat away to a safe home would probably be the best idea. I would keep having your younger son sleep in your room at night, until you can be sure his brother won't harm him during the night.

 

  My heart's breaking for you and for how much stress you must be under everyday.

 

  Hugs to you.

 

 

 

 

IMac38942.9783680556

I feel my heart aching as I read your post not only for you, your cat, and, your youngest son, but mostly for your oldest son whom I'm sure has a heart of gold in there somewhere and probably wonders too in his own private moments why he acts the way he does.  I know how frustrating it is to be brushed off and ignored by the so-called professionals who in my own family situation told me over and over again that I was dealing with adhd even though I kept stating there was more to it; the behavior doesn't fit the diagnosis.  It took 9 years for me to finally receive the diagnosis of autism with my oldest son after practically breaking the doors down of the medical professionals in my circle to take my pleas for help seriously.  Is the father of the child involved?  Is there anyway he can intervene and give you a much deserved break and/or help you reach out to resources who could help you and your son through the mental health resources of your medical insurance policy?  I hope so.  Good luck to you.  Please be persistent in seeking assistance.  You and your family will definitely be in my prayers.  Please keep us updated.  

Whether it be ADHD, Autism or a combination my best suggestion is to put your child on an excellent MultiVitamin with Mineral Supplements. If under the age of four, beware of Iron since it can cause Iron poisoining. I recently went to "The Vitamin Shoppe" and purchased a multivitamin with many more mineral supplements than the grocery store versions offered. It is called "Yummi Bears." You can give your child three at once or dose one at a time throughout the day. This has produced fabulous results with my ADHD daughter who is also on Adderall 5mg. daily.

Hope this helps.